Remnants of Former Glory: a Lookback at Aztec Culture and Civilisation

The Aztecs were a Nahuatl-speaking civilisation inhabiting central and southern parts of what nowadays is Mexico. Their civilisation reached its prime in the 14-16th centuries before the arrival of the Spanish conquistadors that incorporated once vibrant society into the Spanish Empire.

The Aztecs are famous for their outstanding system of agriculture and irrigation that contributed to their development and might.

They are also notorious for their shocking and gory rituals that include human sacrifice - including heart-extraction.

Make sure not to miss Sputnik's photo gallery showing the cultural heritage of the Aztec Empire in all its glory.

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Mexico City. Palacio Nacional. Mural by Diego Rivera showing life in Aztec times e.g. religious life in Tenochtitlan.

CC BY-SA 3.0 / Wolfgang Sauber /

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Turquoise mosaic mask of Xiuhtecuhtli, the god of fire. Aztec or Mixtec (AD 1400-1521), in the British Museum.

CC BY-SA 4.0 / Hans Hillewaert / Xiuhtecuhtli (cropped photo)

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Sculptures in the Templo Mayor, the historical centre of Mexico City

CC BY-SA 4.0 / Juan Carlos Fonseca Mata / Esculturas en el Templo Mayor (cropped photo)

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Tlatelolco Marketplace as depicted at Field Museum of Natural History, Chicago. The largest Aztec market was located in Tenochtitlan's neighbouring town, Tlatelolco.

CC BY-SA 3.0 / Joe Ravi /

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Two skulls from the Azteca culture are seen during a tour for the media of the "El Colorido de la Gran Tenochtitlan" exhibit at the Templo Mayor Museum in Mexico City on May 18, 2017.

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Human sacrifice as shown in the Codex Magliabechiano.

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National Museum of Anthropology in Mexico City. Reconstruction of the Templo Mayor of Tenochtitlan.

CC BY-SA 3.0 / Wolfgang Sauber /

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Tenochtitlan/Mexico City.

CC BY-SA 2.0 / Randal Sheppard / Tenochtitlan/Mexico City

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Model of Tenochtitlan

CC BY-SA 3.0 / Luidger / Tenochtitlan Modell

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Aztec Calendar

CC BY-SA 3.0 / Kornemuz / Piedra del Sol (conocido como Calendario Azteca)

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Modern-day descendant of the Aztecs

CC BY-SA 3.0 / Ulises.rubin / Templo Mayor

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An Aztec mask decorated with turquoise mosaic, 1400-1521

CC BY-SA 3.0 / Sailko / Mixtechi-aztechi, maschera di tezcatlipoca con mosaico in turchese, 1400-1521 circa, 0

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Page 12 of the Codex Borbonicus, (in the big square): Tezcatlipoca (night and fate) and Quetzalcoatl (feathered serpent); before 1500; bast fibre paper; height: 38 cm, length of the full manuscript.

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Photo of an Aztec double-headed serpent, turquoise chest ornament.

CC BY-SA 3.0 / Geni / Photo of an aztec double headed serpent turquoise chest ornament

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An artist's impression of Tenochtitlán

CC BY-SA 3.0 / Mariana277 / Tenochtitlán em seu esplendor

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Mictlantecuhtli; Aztec God of the Dead, found in Teotihuacan; shown at the National Museum of Anthropology, Mexico City.

CC BY 3.0 / Anagoria / Mictlantecuhtli; aztec God of the Dead, found in Teotihuacan; shown at the National Museum of Anthropology, Mexico City

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A piece is seen during a tour for the media of the "El Colorido de la Gran Tenochtitlan" exhibit at the Templo Mayor Museum in Mexico City on May 18, 2017.

Remnants of Former Glory: A Look Back at Enigmatic Aztec Civilisation